Morgan County, Indiana
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Morgan County was created on February 15, 1822 and was formed from Delaware New Purchase and Wabash New Purchase. The Delaware New Purchase: Set up in 1820, portions were set apart as the entire counties of Allen, Bartholomew, Hamilton, Henry, Johnson, Marion, Rush, and Shelby. Parts of the counties of Delaware, Hendricks, Madison, and Morgan also were located in the Delaware Purchase. In 1827, the name of the tract was changed to the Adams New Purchase. The Wabash New Purchase: Begun in 1820, this tract lasted until 1835 and then became all of White County and portions of the counties of Boone, Carroll, Fountain, Hendricks, Jasper, Montgomery, Morgan, Parke, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, and Warsaw. The County was named for Gen. Daniel Morgan, who defeated the British at the Battle of Cowpens in the Revolutionary War.

The County Seat is Martinsville. First settled in 1822 by Joshua Taylor, Judge Gray, Jacob Cutler, G. W. Preston, Dr. Sims, and other, by 1849 it contained a population of about 600. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Morgan County are Hendricks County (north), Marion County (northeast), Johnson County (east), Brown County (southeast), Monroe County (south), Owen County (southwest), Putnam County (northwest).

Morgan County is divided into 14 Civil Townships as follows: Adams, Ashland, Baker, Brown, Clay, Green, Gregg, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Ray and Washington.

Cities, Towns and Communities include Adams, Allman, Bethany, Briarwood, Brooklyn, Bunker Hill, Campbells, Centerton, Cope, Eminence, Exchange, Fields, Fox Hill, Hall, Hyndsdale, Mahalasville, Martinsville, Monrovia, Mooresville, Morgantown, Paragon, Ridgewood, Taggart, Whitaker, Wilbur, Wiser, and Wolff.

  • The Morgan County Official Government Website
  • Search Historical Newspapers from Indiana (1817 - 1930) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
  • Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
  • Morgan County Township Map
  • Indiana Newspaper Holdings for Morgan County: The county newspaper holdings are under regular revision, as new microfilm holdings are added. These files are not up to date; there are continuous updates and corrections.
  • Official County Historians
  • Morgan County, Indiana History Books at Amazon.com
  • Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
  • Search Indiana Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Indiana Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

PLEASE READ FIRST!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

NOTE: The date listed for each category of record is the earliest record known to exist in that county. It does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and certainly does not indicate that all such events that year were actually registered. Courthouse destroyed by Fire in Mar. 1876, Some records destroyed. Saved: marriage and deed records from 1822, probate order books 1822-1836. See also the Morgan County Courthouse History

Morgan County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1822 , Probate Records from 1822 and Court Records from ? and is located at County Courthouse-First Floor, Courthouse Square, 10 East Washington Street, Martinsville, Indiana 46151; Telephone: (765) 342-1025

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a ministerial officer who is the custodian of the Clerk's record and seal, issues process, accepts filings of commencement of actions in litigation, enters judgments and orders of the court, receives money in his official capacity, makes certified copies of record, issues many miscellaneous licenses, and keeps a record of all wills and matters of trust in probate proceedings.

Morgan County Recorder has Land Records from 1822 and is located at Morgan County Administration Building, 180 South Main Street, Suite 125, Martinsville, Indiana 46151; Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1653 Martinsville, IN 46151; (765) 342-1077

The county recorder's function is to maintain permanent public records involving a wide variety of instruments. These documents detail transactions involving real estate, mining, personal property, mortgages, liens, leases, subdivision plats, military discharges, personal bonds, etc. Generally, all of these instruments are recorded either for giving legal public notice of their existence or for safekeeping and future reference. The recorder maintains and preserves all legal documents affecting title to real property.

Records of county taxes were kept as early at 1842, although most were discarded. Remaining ones would be at the county courthouse. National Archives-Great Lakes Region has records of the Internal Revenue Service for Indiana for 1867 to 1873. These are tax assessment records, arranged by district and then chronologically.

Morgan County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at Vital Records, 3838 N. Rural St., Indianapolis, IN 46205; (317) 541-2400, Email: jbishop@hhcorp.org

Below is a list of online resources for Morgan County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Indianapolis Newspaper Index, 1848-1991: Select articles from 1848-1888 Indianapolis daily newspapers; heavily focused on deaths and marriages. Select articles from 1898-1991 about people, places, events, and topics in Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. Extremely limited for deaths; no coverage of marriages.  Card file also available in the Microforms Area, second floor.
  • Reference & Government Services CD Collection: Database to allow searching of the hundreds of CDs from the federal government and other sources, part of the collections of the Reference & Government Services Division.
  • Morgan County, Indiana Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
  • Search Land Patents at Gov-Records.com
  • Search Property Records at Gov-Records.com

County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Vital Records in Indiana

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records office is located at 6 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The office is open for walk-in requests from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., Monday through Friday (excluding official State Holidays). They have the following records:


  • Birth Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains birth records that occur in Indiana since Oct 1907 to the present. Prior to October 1907, records of birth are filed only with the local health department in the county where the birth actually occurred.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $10.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "Indiana State Department of Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 5 weeks when ordered by MAIL. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE.
  • Death Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains death records that occur in Indiana since 1900 to the present. Prior to 1900, records of death are filed only with the local health department in the county where the death actually occurred. For deaths occurring from 1900 to 1917, the city and/or county of death is required in order to locate the record.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $8.00 and $4.00 for each additional copy. Make your check or money order payable to "Indiana State Department of Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 5 weeks when ordered by MAIL. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates much quicker by ordering HERE.
  • Marriage Certificates: Certified copies of marriage certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the Clerks of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage was granted. Fees vary.
  • Divorce Certificates: Certified copies of divorce certificates are not available from the State Health Department. They are available from the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.
  • Ordering Vital Records Online- You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service

Below is a list of online resources for Morgan County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • Vital Records from Archives.com: Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service. - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Indiana newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Indiana Marriages Database: Database for Indiana marriages through 1850
  • Indiana Marriages Database: Database for Indiana marriages 1993 through 2002
  • Indiana Births, 1880-1920: This database indexes births for thirty-one of the counties indexed by the WPA.
  • Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920: This data set contains the WPA's indexes to the death records of most of the counties that they completed.
  • Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941: This database is a collection of Indiana marriage indexes covering various years and counties.
  • Indiana Marriages to 1850: This database of Indiana marriages to 1850 contains nearly 200,000 names.
  • Indiana Marriages, 1802-1892: This database is an index to individuals who were married in Indiana between 1802 and 1892.
  • Morgan County, Indiana Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Indiana

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Morgan County, Indiana are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Morgan County, Indiana are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Morgan County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Census Records at Archives.com
  • Indiana Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 (Northwest Territory) Federal Census Index; 1807 State Census Index; 1810 Wayne County Census Index; 1812 Census Index; 1820 Federal Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule.
  • Morgan County, Indiana Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Indiana showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Indiana showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at County Maps

Below is a list of online resources for Morgan County Maps. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Maps by clicking the link below:

County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Indiana

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Morgan County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Military Records by clicking the link below:

County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Indiana Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Morgan County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Indiana

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Morgan County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Morgan County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Baptist records are found at Franklin College (in Franklin); Methodist at DePauw University (in Greencastle); Mennonite at Goshen College (in Goshen); Presbyterian at Hanover College (in Hanover); Disciples of Christ at their historical society in Nashville, Tennessee; and French Catholic at Vincennes University in the Byron R. Lewis Collection. There are also Catholic church histories and records at the Catholic Archives, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Quaker records are at Earlham College (at Richmond).

The commissioner's office of each Indiana county may have burial records for soldiers, sailors, and marines. If available, the records should include name, age, date of enlistment, discharge date, and death date. Records begin about 1862.

The Indiana State Library holds records of inscriptions from some Indiana cemeteries. The "Indiana Cemetery Locator File," compiled by the Genealogy Division, is an alphabetical listing of cemeteries, indicating the location in the state and the designation in the Genealogy Division of the Indiana State Library where inscriptions may be found.

Below is a list of online resources for Morgan County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Morgan County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Morgan County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

  • Search 60 Years Of Everton Data : For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
  • Sites on USGenweb: [ Morgan County ] [ Indiana ] [ Main Page ]
  • Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
  • The Indiana Family Group Sheet Project
  • Morgan County INGenWeb Archives
  • [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
  • Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
  • Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
  • Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
  • Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
  • Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
  • Morgan County, Indiana Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

1849 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Gazetteer," published by E. Chamberlain

Morgan County, named in honor of General Daniel Morgan, was organized in 1822. It contains 453 square miles, and is bounded north by Hendricks and Marion, east by Johnson, south by Brown and Monroe, and west by Owen and Putnam. It contains the following townships, viz: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Harrison, Brown, Clay, Ray, Baker, Green and Gregg. The population in 1830 was 5,579, in 1840, 10,741, and at this time about 14,000. About one-third of the county is river and creek bottoms, the soil a sandy loam and of the richest quality. There is generally a ridge of hills where these bottoms terminate. Back of these the land becomes undulating, and in some places level, and in some places too wet for any crop but grass. In the south part of the county, adjoining Monroe, is a very hilly and broken region, yet the timber is good and the soil excellent, where it can be cultivated. No part of the State is more favorable for agriculture, and some of the best farms in it are now found here. The principal crop is corn, though wheat, oats, grass, and fruit are successfully cultivated, and the spirit of progress is now apparent among the farmers, in the erection of substantial buildings, in planting good orchards and vineyards, and in increasing the variety and quality of their crops. Though White River is not favorable for navigation but a short time each year, yet from twenty-five to thirty boats, carrying from fifty to seventy tons, are annually sent off freighted with surplus products. Other articles are taken to the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, and cattle, horses and mules are driven usually to distant markets. In most years, 40,000 bushels of corn, and mules, and many other articles of considerable value have been exported from this county, and were there a railroad completed to Martinsville or Mooresville, as has been proposed, or even the Plank Road completed from Franklin to the Bluffs, the amount would be largely increased.

There are in the county eighteen gristmills, twenty-eight sawmills, three carding machines, one fulling mill, one printing office, thirty stores and groceries, seven lawyers, twenty physicians, thirty preachers, about 300 mechanics, a flourishing County Seminary, and about eighty common schools, which are kept up a portion of the year. The religious denominations that have erected churches are as follows: Cumberland Presbyterians one, Lutherans one, Baptists five, Reformers or Christians ten, Friends three, Methodists fourteen. The taxable land in the county is 217,047 acres.

In the western part of the county is a cavern, from the mouth of which leaps a foaming stream that only at a few feet distance turns a flourishing mill. This cavern has been explored about half a mile, but the darkness and the myriads of bats that make its gloomy halls their abode, render its full exploration a matter of difficulty. About two and a-half miles southeast of Martinsville, at a ford of the creek, where an Indian trail passed it, is a spot called by the Indians "Murder Ground." The origin of the name, by their tradition, was that one of their parties having captured several prisoners from Kentucky, in early times, had escaped with them to this place without being pursued, as they thought. Here they left their prisoners bound, and went out to hunt. In their absence, a party of Kentuckians came up and stationed themselves in ambush, near the prisoners, and shot the Indians almost to a man as they returned at different times from hunting.

1938 Adams County Retrospect - Based on "Indiana Review," published by the State Legislature

Located in the valley of the west fork of White River, Morgan County is famous for its medicated water wells, its fine hardwood timber, numerous sugar camps, and the largest goldfish hatchery in the world. Morgan County's soil is very fertile and sandstone is the chief natural resource. Also found in the county is shale, which is well suited for the manufacture of paving brick.

The county embraces 406 square miles, divided into fourteen townships. It is located southwest of Indianapolis, its northeastern boundary touching Marion County. The incorporated city is Martinsville, 4,962; towns: Mooresville, 1,910; Morgantown, 748; Brooklyn, 545, and Paragon, 366. The county population in 1890 was 18,643; 1900, 20,457; 1910, 21,182; 1920, 20,010; 1930, 19,424.

Martinsville is commonly known as the "Artesian City" of medicated waters because of mineral wells, one 700 feet deep, which produce flowing waters. Many spas and sanatoriums, built after discovery of the precious waters with their curative powers, have attracted thousands of afflicted people who come to partake of the waters and get relief for their ailments.

Martinsville is thirty miles southwest of Indianapolis and is served by two railroads. It is not notably industrial, though it has some industries, including flour, saw, and planing mills, woodenware factory, hickory chair factory, and brick plant. There are also several points of interest in the city such as the first paved mile of the Dixie Highway. A marker, one-half mile from the courthouse, commemorates the completion of this mile. Selling bricks at twenty-five cents each raised the funds for that pavement and the names of the buyers were burned into the bricks.

Two other places are of note. One is a residence, notable because it was formerly a tavern on the "Old Trail," the other, a bakery, which has not been altered for more than a century. Northeast of the city is the Grassyfork Fisheries, which was the pioneer home of the pioneer home of the Shireman Family.

This county had twenty-four manufacturing establishments according to figures of the 1935 federal census. A total of 406 wage earners were employed on payrolls totaling $258,620. The value of the products was $1,546,298.

Morgan County had 2,343 farms averaging 98.4 acres each. Their value was $9,666,768. A total of 58,171 head of livestock was reported. The total county tax valuation for 1936 was $14,698,908.

Courthouse History

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